Home Gaming No, Ubisoft didn’t downgrade Assassin’s Creed: Unity

No, Ubisoft didn’t downgrade Assassin’s Creed: Unity

2 min read
44

Assassin’s Creed: Unity has come under immense fire since launch, mainly due to the fact that the game runs extremely poorly across all three of its platforms. Various patches have been aiming to improve this, and one released earlier this week aimed to increase the framerate that currently sits in the toilet. After the update went live, it seemed like Ubisoft was back to pulling some of their old tricks again.

Except that this time, they legitimately weren’t. Many players started noticing some odd lighting, especially in the PS4 version of the game, post patching. This lead some people, including Reddit user Derekro, to believe that the game had been downgraded in order to stabiles the framerate. As you can see from some of the images posted below, it certainly looked like it.

This was the Batcave Assassin’s HQ before the patch:
Assassins creed unity comparison screen 1

And then afterwards:
Assassins creed unity comparison screen 2

Thing is, the game looked pretty much identical outside of that and one or two other isolated areas. Ubisoft were quick to point out that the lighting in the images wasn’t a result of a downgrade, but rather a new bug introduced with the patches. This was also confirmed by NeoGaf user Elios83, who spent a lot of time cross-checking the claims.

Seems the patch introduced a lighting bug in that particular location, PS4 version. There are no downgrades elsewhere and the frame rate is still sub 30fps. Makes no sense at all as a downgrade since the problems weren’t in a closed environments to being with.

That’s pretty much spot on, since Unity runs perfectly fine in indoor areas. It’s the more crowded, expansive outside areas that present more issues, and it seems the patch itself hasn’t really remedied that just yet. In fact, it looks like that patch has actually locked the game to a lower framerate, meaning dips into 30FPS territory are no linger possible. NeoGaf user kinggroin pointed this out on the Xbox One version of the game.

The frame rate outside is still shit. The crowds are still dense. What’s odd is that looking at the sky or floor yields no framerate increase. In fact, the game seems locked at 24fps regardless. Before any patch, I’d usually see the game hover at 30fps.

That’s not confirmed, but considering Ubisoft has stated that they’re still going to be addressing framerate issues it seems like a logical first step. Still, this entire debacle raises an interesting question: would you be fine with a bit of a visual downgrade if it meant better game stability? It’s essentially what PC gamers are free to do with every game.

Last Updated: November 28, 2014

44 Comments

  1. It’s rather difficult to downgrade something that’s already scraping the bottom of the barrel.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Wang

      November 28, 2014 at 13:37

      LOL, spot on!

      Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    November 28, 2014 at 13:37

    • Rags

      November 28, 2014 at 13:38

      rofl, awesome!

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief Wang

      November 28, 2014 at 13:38

      DIS MOS HOE JY ‘N VIS MOET VANG!!!

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief Wang

      November 28, 2014 at 13:38

      “Liefie, hoe wil jy jou vis hê?”
      “MINCED”

      Reply

      • Lord Chaos

        November 28, 2014 at 13:46

        O_o

        Reply

      • ToshZA

        November 28, 2014 at 13:47

        *”RINCED”

        You decide what that means.

        Reply

        • Raptor Rants A Lot

          November 28, 2014 at 13:49

          Ginger flavoured fish?

          Reply

        • Lord Chaos

          November 28, 2014 at 13:50

          I need to go wash my mind now.

          Reply

    • Brady miaau

      November 28, 2014 at 13:38

      In game footage?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        November 28, 2014 at 13:39

        Apparently

        Reply

      • oVg elfroot addict

        November 28, 2014 at 13:40

        PC, you can see by the spastic camera panning created by the sharp jolts on the mouse.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Wang

          November 28, 2014 at 13:41

          HAHA, detective oVg, solving another mindboggler!

          Reply

        • Rock789

          November 28, 2014 at 14:16

          Definitely PC… I’ve done a similar thing, sans the bow (used a grenade launcher to hunt the demon fish – because I CAN!!) and the water explosion, though good, did not have that kinda detail… Still good looking game.

          Reply

    • oVg elfroot addict

      November 28, 2014 at 13:39

      Frame Rate looks legit.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        November 28, 2014 at 13:40

        Day one patch wasn’t been loaded yet

        Reply

    • Alessandro Barbosa

      November 28, 2014 at 13:39

      OMG BEST GIF EVER 😀

      Reply

    • Raptor Rants A Lot

      November 28, 2014 at 13:41

      Looooooooool

      Reply

    • ToshZA

      November 28, 2014 at 13:46

      Oddly, that gif alone makes me want to get FC4.

      Reply

      • Lord Chaos

        November 28, 2014 at 13:48

        Ditto. Or to start and try finish 3

        Reply

        • ToshZA

          November 28, 2014 at 13:49

          I’m in the same position. Halfway through FC3 still from last year – too many games and too little time. 🙁

          Reply

          • Lord Chaos

            November 28, 2014 at 13:52

            That and I tend to get sidetracked way too easily in open world games. Can spend days wandering and not touching a storyline mission.

          • ToshZA

            November 28, 2014 at 13:53

            Pretty much exactly this. 🙁 I’ve spent so many hours in FC3, and not advanced the story because all the shit to do…

            So glad I’m not the only one. XD

          • Hammersteyn

            November 28, 2014 at 13:56

            Same here with FC4, chasing loot chests all over the map

          • Fnuik

            November 28, 2014 at 13:58

            Loved FC3, finished it and wanted more, but tried playing it again from beginning a few months later and just could not do it. I hope FC4 will not be the same to me. Although I think new setting and story will keep me happy.

          • Hammersteyn

            November 28, 2014 at 14:03

            It’s basically FC3 all over again, but with a new story and setting. Plus the wingsuit is available very early on.

          • Fnuik

            November 28, 2014 at 14:07

            Will be getting it for myself soon, keen on a sp game to play after many hours of destiny.

          • ToshZA

            November 28, 2014 at 14:08

            I bet you’ll find a ton more if you look behind some micro transactions. 😛

    • Sageville

      November 28, 2014 at 14:05

      WIIIIN!!!

      Reply

    • CAE9872

      November 28, 2014 at 14:07

      That is one cool gif.

      Reply

    • Quo Vadis?

      November 28, 2014 at 14:15

      thar be the only way o’ fishin’… redneck style!

      Reply

    • HvR

      November 28, 2014 at 14:27

      Just watch out for the fish taking revenge

      Reply

  3. Admiral Chief Wang

    November 28, 2014 at 13:37

  4. oVg elfroot addict

    November 28, 2014 at 13:38

    Is it just me or do other people burp up a little vomit every time a Ubisoft article is posted?
    Enough already, lets leave all their bollocks behind in 2014…

    CRAP… 2015 will require more vomiting. That stupid Tom Clancy game still needs to be released. ARGHHHHHH!!!!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Wang

      November 28, 2014 at 13:41

      Don’t remind me 🙁

      Reply

    • GooseZA

      November 28, 2014 at 13:56

      I’m glad I’m not the only one who is physically incapable of leaving elfroot in the ground. It’s there. I must pick it. Why else would it be there except for me to pick it.

      PICK ALL THE ELFROOT!

      Reply

      • oVg elfroot addict

        November 28, 2014 at 13:58

        GOD DAM ELFROOT. Its preventing me from even getting near my objective marker in a nights sitting.

        100hour game. 80hours spent gardening. I LOVE IT.

        Reply

    • CAE9872

      November 28, 2014 at 14:11

      Generally I would 100% agree with you – but Ubisoft have had a bit of a disastrous year => WatchDogs issues, AC Unity, E3 women debacle in Unity, Rogue which basically reskins Black Flag. Not all bad sure, but boy they need 2015 bad.

      So yeah for them making us their beta testers with finished goods…they deserve a little more negativity. Come 1 Jan 2015 we can relook at the situation and see who will step up to the plate as the new “bad” boys.

      Actually a great idea – lets rank the game companies – I will start.

      2014 – Ubisoft
      2013 – Microsoft…clearly!
      2012 – EA?
      etc

      Reply

      • oVg elfroot addict

        November 28, 2014 at 14:16

        We need Konami, Naughty Dog, Projekt Red, Square, 343 to dilute the next gen.

        KUDOS to Ubisoft for at least providing next gen gamers with games during 2014. Just a pity most of them were rushed and cut n paste.

        Child of Light is my handheld game of the year.

        Reply

  5. oVg elfroot addict

    November 28, 2014 at 13:55

    I think all gamers who are playing the New Dragon Age need that flashlight from MIB to wipe the memory of DA2 away forever.

    Dragon Age Inquisition is the SKYRIM killer.

    Reply

  6. XDarkPhoenix

    December 2, 2014 at 08:37

    its the stupidly huge crowds. There aren’t needed. Just have more-ish than previous games but less than there is now and focus on quality and ai rather then shit tons of background people eating up resources.

    Reply

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